Obituary

Hero to the Nation & Loving Family Man

Major General (Retd) Godfrey Chanakira

(1957 - 2022)

  • A dark cloud of sorrow and grief has enveloped the nation of Zimbabwe as we mourn the loss of Major General (Retd) Godfrey Chanakira, who was Permanent Secretary in the Office of Vice President Honourable General (Retd) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga.
  • Major General (Retd) Chanakira passed on at West End Hospital in Harare on 26 May 2022 after suffering from a heart condition. He was 65 years old.
  • Major General (Retd) Chanakira is survived by his wife Faina and three children: Davis, Terence and Godfrey (Jnr).
  • Lala Ngokuthula Qhawe lama Qhawe!
  • Fambai zvakanaka Mupamombe!
  • Rest in Peace Son of the Soil!

Early Life

  • Major General (Retd) Chanakira whose nom de guerre was Cde Garikai Musavengana was born on 24 May 1957 at Mutepfa homestead near Shundure Primary School under Chief Marange, Manicaland Province to Davis Chanakira and Grace Chanakira (nee Mutepfa). He was the fourth born in a family of six.
  • In 1963, young Godfrey enrolled for Sub A and Sub B at Shundure Primary School, in Marange. He proceeded to Standard 2 before the primary school system was changed to the Grade 1-7 system in 1966. He passed Grade 7 examinations in 1969, and gained admission into Fonn 1 at St Augustine's Mission, Penhalonga in 1970. Godfrey benefited from a benevolent scholarship at the school which was administered by Father Noel Williams of the Anglican Church in Manicaland Province through the community of the Resurrection (CR) who ran St Augustine’s Mission.
  • In 1973, he completed Ordinary Level and passed the University of Cambridge General Certificate (GCE) Examinations. He enrolled for Lower Sixth studies at Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo, studying Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. He, however, returned to St Augustine’s Mission to complete his Lower Sixth.

Career of Excellence

  • During his service, the late General attended several military courses, chief among them the following:
  • Jul 1980 – Aug 1980 - Officer's Standardisation Courses, Zimbabwe Military Academy
  • Oct 1981 – Feb 1982 - Intermediate Staff Course, Zimbabwe Staff College
  • Jan 1993 - Nov 1993 - Command and Staff Course, Zimbabwe Staff College
  • Aug 2014 - Aug 2015 - National Defence Course, Zimbabwe National Defence University
  • During his illustrious service in the ZNA, the late Major General attained the following professional qualifications and attributes:
  • Master of Business Administration, University of Zimbabwe.
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Zimbabwe
  • Diploma in War and Strategic Studies, University of Zimbabwe
  • Public Sector Expenditure Control and Management, ZIPAM
  • Mobile International defence Management Course with the United States of America's Defence Resources Management Education Centre (DRMEC), Monterey, California.
  • Master of Science in International Studies, University of Zimbabwe.
  • In May 2015, Major General (Retd) Chanakira was seconded to the Civil Service as Principal Director of Fiscal Policy and Advisory Services in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. He held this appointment until 14 March 2016 when he was transferred to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as Principal Director of Policy Coordination and Promotion of Socio-economic Ventures.
  • In January 2018, he was promoted to Permanent Secretary in the office of the Vice President Honourable Retired General Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga, a post he held until his untimely death.
  • Major General (Retd) Chanakira was awarded the following medals for his continued dedication, selfless and exemplary service to the nation:

At Independence, the late General was attested into the Zimbabwe National

Army as a private and held the following appointments:

1980-1981: Battalion second in Command 31 Infantry Battalion.

1981-1985: Administration Staff Officer Grade 2 Conditions of Service.

1986 – 1988: Administration Staff Officer Grade 1 Personal Services Army Headquarters.

1988 – 1989: Acting Colonel Administration.

1990 – 1992: Colonel Logistics

1993 – 1995: Chief Accountant Army Headquarters

1995-1997: Director Finance, Army Headquarters.

1997-2002: Director General Finance, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters.

2002-2009: Brigadier General Quartermaster Staff.

2009-2014: Adjutant General’s Pool.

2014-2015: National Defence University.

2015-2017: Adjutant General’s Pool.

During his illustrious service in the ZNA, the late Major General attained the following professional qualifications and attributes:

Lieutenant 21 August 1981

Captain 1 June 1984

Major 1 April 1986

Lieutenant Colonel 1 December 1988

Colonel 1 January 1990

Brigadier General 25 November 2003

Major General 17 December 2017

Major General (Retd) Chanakira was awarded the following medals for his continued dedication, selfless and exemplary service to the nation:

Liberation Medal – For his gallantry and selfless dedication to the Liberation of Zimbabwe

Independence Medal – For his contribution towards the Independence of Zimbabwe.

Ten Years Service Medal – For his immense contribution to the integration, formation and development of the Zimbabwe National Army during the first year of its existence.

Long and Exemplary Service Medal – For his exemplary service for continuous 15 years.

Mozambique Campaign Medal – For his contribution towards the restoration of peace and stability in Mozambique.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign Medal-For his contribution towards peace and the regard for humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo during Operation Sovereign Legitimacy.

Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award – For his eminent achievement and distinguished service to Zimbabwe and to humanity at large.